FIFTEEN

Juliette remembers a cruel schoolmate once asking why she did not kill herself. The memory leads her to reflect on how long she hoped that obedience and silence might make her parents listen to her or love her.

Juliette wakes in Warner’s bed with Warner already dressed and watching her. Embarrassed and weak from not eating, Juliette tries to get up but nearly collapses. Warner notes that Juliette ignored the food he left, and Juliette forces herself to eat bread and take water before Warner escorts her back toward her room.

In the hallway outside Warner’s quarters, Juliette sees more heavily armed soldiers than before, and all of them visibly fear her. Warner is pleased and tells Juliette that their fear will help protect her. Juliette realizes Warner deliberately forced the incident with Jenkins to make her power public, but Warner insists the spectacle was intentional and necessary.

In the elevator, Warner corners Juliette and admits that he sacrificed Jenkins and exposed Juliette to protect his own control and to warn soldiers who might harm her or challenge Warner. Juliette argues that Warner helps by hurting people, while Warner insists Juliette does not understand power, danger, or his world. When the elevator opens, Warner orders Juliette to wash and change into a dress, then points out a shadow near her door before leaving her with a warning disguised as a promise to return in one hour.

The shadow is Adam, now injured and struggling to open Juliette’s door. Juliette realizes Warner has punished Adam because of Juliette’s disobedience, and she is devastated that Adam has seen what Juliette can do and may now fear or hate her. Despite Adam’s pain, Adam tells Juliette to wear the purple dress, making clear that Juliette is being prepared for whatever Warner has planned next.